Immigration courts reject 94% of asylum applications amid record-fast case turnover
In June, immigration judges denied 94% of asylum requests, while the number of cases closed each month hit historic highs.
A recent analysis by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse reveals that immigration judges rejected 94% of asylum applications in June, amounting to roughly 13,500 denied claims and only 771 approvals. This denial rate contrasts sharply with a 50% rejection level in June 2024 and a 43% approval share three years earlier. The increase in case closures coincides with the addition of several hundred new judges, pushing monthly completions above 13,000 and reaching over 14,000 in both March and June 2026.
As of December 2025, the immigration courts were burdened with 3.38 million pending cases, managed by more than 600 judges after over 270 judges either resigned or were dismissed in fiscal 2025-26. President Donald Trump has removed many judges with high grant rates, substituting them with temporary military and permanent appointees, a practice that allows the executive branch to shape immigration outcomes outside of congressional authority.
Why it matters
The near-total denial of asylum claims signals a sharp shift in U.S. immigration enforcement and affects millions awaiting protection.
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